This weekend we added another guinea pig, Charlie, to the Motley Crew. Guinea pigs are social animals and I’d read an article last week on that subject and began to feel bad for Albert. We knew they liked a friend but Albert seemed ok by himself. He’d had a friend before we got him but that pig, Einstein, had passed away. I made the common mistake of just “taking a look”at the county adoption page.

Right at the top of the list of small animals was Charlie, a 4-year-old male who had just been at the shelter a few days. Kathryn and I went over to see him but we were only in there for about 3 minutes before the fire alarm went off and we were evacuated from the building. While our timing was bad, there’s not a lot you can tell from looking at a guinea pig in a cage. I mean he didn’t show his teeth or appear to be afraid of us so it seemed like it might work out.

Mike and Kathryn went back on Sunday to adopt Charlie. Charlie had been adopted from the shelter before but the new family had returned him. It’s hard not to find this awful but they seemed to have intended to care for him.  They even took him to the vet to get his nails cut at one point – that’s more than we do for Albert. We do the home manicure.  But the child they got him for seemed to lose interest and they returned him. Honestly, it was the best thing because now we have him! Charlie is super friendly and has a little Mohawk hairdo. Charlie, at 4, is considered a senior so it feels good that whatever time he has left, it will be with us versus the shelter. 

My sister and her family recently adopted a dog that had been dropped off at the pound with two other dogs. Joseph, their dog, had basically been a stud his whole adult life. The two other dogs with his were his baby mamas. Whoever owned them decided to “retire” them by dropping them off. I find this unbelievable. Joseph was lucky to end up with my sister and her family. He’s found a loving and supportive home as he gets started on his new bachelor life.

When Charlie got home here, Charlie and Albert were put together on the floor, a neutral place, and observed for three hours. This is supposed to be the best way to introduce them. Albert chased Charlie and bit and then the two of them snuggled together to sleep. The next morning, Charlie was chasing Albert. Fair is fair. This morning when I looked in their cage, Albert had fallen asleep with his head in the door way of Charlie’s igloo. I’m not sure if he was blocking his exit or staring lovingly in at him and nodded off. Either way, they seem to have found a congenial balance.

We are hoping that Charlie, the more “athletic” one (less fat) will encourage Albert to get some more exercise and if we are lucky, Albert won’t teach Charlie to ring the little bell he has that he rings when he’s hungry. I know, it seems if it is annoying why not take it out but that’s Albert’s one trick! Can’t take that away from him. 

If you are thinking of getting a pet, I hope you will look at your local shelter. If dogs, cats or guinea pigs aren’t your thing, ours had turtles, a wide assortment of birds and some gerbils too. Animals are great to have around even ones outside.  As Kathryn likes to say to me, she believes that I love the birds and squirrels that I feed in the yard more than her. That’s just not true, I love Smokey more than her although she comes in a very, very close second on most days. 😉 Seriously, check your local shelter for a great addition to your family.